Child&#39;s carriage, in particular a stroller

ABSTRACT

A child&#39;s carriage including a frame that supports a seat for a child and from which a rear bar extends for pushing the carriage and from which a front rod extends to a fork to which a front wheel is mounted. A swivel is mounted between the front rod and the fork which swivel is covered by a housing for at least one light source and wherein the light source is controlled by a switch on the rear bar.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of parent application Ser. No.11/918,568, filed Oct. 16, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,330, issuedDec. 28, 2010, which is a national phase application ofPCT/FR2006/000866, filed Apr. 20, 2006, which application claims thepriority benefit of French application FR 08 04007 filed Apr. 21, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a child's carriage, such as a stroller,a baby carriage, or a tricycle, i.e., more generally, a wheeled vehiclefor transporting a young child while being pushed by an adult.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

In operation, the adult in charge of causing this type of carriage tomove forwards is necessarily placed behind the carriage in order to pushit forwards, by applying a corresponding thrust force to one or twothrust elements, such as a bar, handles, etc., arranged at the rear ofthe frame of the carriage.

This leads to a degree of danger for the on-board child when the adultis about to engage a crossing over which fast vehicles such as cars alsopass, since the adult, the only person capable of estimating the risk ofpotential collisions on causing the stroller to advance, is remote fromthe front portion of the frame of the carriage, i.e. remote from thezone of the stroller that becomes engaged first on the dangerouscrossing. This applies in particular when the child's carriage is pushedto cross a road, e.g. on a pedestrian crossing.

In the beginning of the 1970s, GB-A-1 302 420 proposed a stroller withwheels that are not swivel-mounted relative to the frame, in which afront end bar is fitted with a warning light for warning the drivers ofmotor vehicles traveling close to the stroller, e.g. when the strolleris engaged on a pedestrian crossing. The warning light is controlled bya switch at the rear that can be actuated by the adult pushing thestroller. The risk of collision with the stroller is thereby reduced,but in practice the warning system proposed is designed merely to befitted onto the pre-existing frame of the stroller, which considerablydegrades the overall appearance of the stroller. In particular, thehousing of the warning light is attached to the frame of the stroller bya bulky clip or the like, reinforcing the relatively unattractive effectof a “add-on” part.

More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,633 proposed a frame for athree-wheel stroller including a swivel-mounted front wheel. One or moreheadlights, provided at the front of the frame emit light beams directedtowards the ground in order to illuminate the path in front of thestroller, but without being suitable for providing effective warning tovehicle drivers moving in the neighborhood of the stroller, inparticular those approaching it from the side. In addition, as in GB-A-1302 420, those headlights are designed as parts that are added onto apre-existing stroller frame, with the housing of each headlight beingassembled to the frame in a purely juxtaposed manner.

SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose a child's carriagewith a front warning light, in which the carriage is attractive inappearance, in particular in the vicinity of the light.

To this end, the invention provides a child's carriage as defined inclaim 1.

With the child's carriage of the invention, the means forswivel-mounting the front fork relative to the frame can be pleasinglyhidden within the housing of the warning light. The housing is thusattractively integrated in the frame, and in particular in its frontportion. In other words, the child's carriage of the invention providesexcellent integration between its warning light and its frame. It willbe understood that the housing can thus present a variety of outsideshapes presenting an appearance, when associated with the appearance ofthe front portion of the frame and of the fork, that advantageouslyproduces a visible “signature” effect specific to the carriage.

When the child's carriage of the invention, while being pushed frombehind by an adult, is on the point of engaging a dangerous crossingthat is also crossed by vehicles traveling at relatively high speed, theadult actuates the switch to switch on the warning light so as to warnsuch vehicles of the presence of the child's carriage. For example, whenthe child's carriage is engaged on a pedestrian crossing in order tocross a road, the adult switching on the warning light delivers a lightsignal that attracts the attention of drivers of cars and other vehiclesthat are traveling on the road and that might strike the child'scarriage. Since the warning light is situated at the front of the frameof the child's carriage, the light signal it emits reaches such driversas soon as the front of the stroller has engaged the danger zone, eventhough the adult pushing the child's carriage is still set back a longway from the danger zone. The adult has no difficulty in switching thewarning light on and off since the control switch is situated on theelement for pushing the child's carriage, in other words on the portionof the frame where the adult positions the hands on a permanent basisfor delivering the thrust needed for propelling the carriage forwards.

Other characteristics and advantages of this child's carriage, taken inisolation or in any other technically feasible combination are set outin the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood on reading the followingdescription given purely by way of example and made with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a child's carriage of the invention, ofthe stroller type;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the FIG. 1 carriage seen looking alongarrow II, showing how the carriage is used;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a variant in accordance with theinvention of the front portion of the FIG. 1 carriage; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view seen at an angle differentfrom that of FIG. 3 and on a larger scale, showing a portion of thefront light of the FIG. 3 carriage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a carriage 1 for transporting a young child, beingpushed on the ground S by an adult 3 shown in FIG. 2 only. The strollerhas a hinged frame 10 having a seat 12 fitted thereto (shown in dashedoutline only), in which the child being transported sits. For clarity ofthe drawings, the child is not shown in the figures. In a variant notshown, the seat 12 could be replaced by a cot or the like enabling thechild to be transported in the prone position. The frame 10 shown in thefigures is merely an illustrative example of a stroller frame that canbe used in the context of the present invention, but other framestructures could be provided, whether hinged or not.

For convenience, in the description below, directional terms are usedrelative to the frame 10 of the stroller 1, such that the terms “top”and “high” designate a direction going away from the ground S andcorresponding to the high portion of FIG. 1, while the terms “bottom”and “low” designate an opposite direction, such that the observationarrow II for FIG. 2 relative to FIG. 1 points downwards.

Similarly, the terms “front” and “rear” are used relative to the normalforward direction of the stroller 1, i.e. the direction in which thestroller is normally pushed, as represented by an arrow 5 in FIGS. 1 and2, which arrow points forwards. Similarly, the terms “left” and “right”are defined relative to the forward direction of the stroller 1, suchthat they designate respectively the left and right portions of FIG. 2,with only the right-hand side of the stroller 1 being visible in FIG. 1.

In its high portion, the frame 10 is fitted with a push bar 14 extendingtransversely relative to the forward direction of the stroller, and oversubstantially the entire width of the frame. This bar is situated behindand projects from the remainder of the frame 10 so as to be gripped bythe adult when seeking to push the stroller in the direction of arrow 5.Seen from above, the bar 14 is generally in the form of a flat V-shape,with its tip directed rewards, as shown in FIG. 2. This shape makes thebar easier for the adult 3 to grip since the bar can be grippednaturally in both hands so as to apply a forward thrust force to thestroller, as well as a change-of-direction force when it is appropriateto turn the stroller.

The frame 10 is supported on the ground S by three wheels, specificallytwo rear wheels 16 on the left and right sides, and a front wheel 18 inthe middle. The frame 10 has a middle front rod 20 that extends in thedirection of arrow 5 and that has a fork 22 swivel-mounted to the frontend thereof for connecting the frame 10 to the front wheel 18.

The stroller 1 also has a warning light 24 arranged at its front end inthe middle portion of the frame 10. More precisely, this light 24comprises a generally spherical hollow outer housing 26 that is securedin fixed manner to the front end of the rod 20 of the frame 10, so as toproject forwards. The housing 26 forms a decorative covering for thezone where the fork 22 is swivel-mounted to the rod 20, conferring anattractive appearance of the front portion of the stroller 1.

Inside the housing 26, the light 24 comprises a light source,represented in diagrammatic manner only in the figures by a pointreferenced 27, such as a light bulb or the like, and intended to producea light signal when the light source is electrically powered.

Advantageously, the light 24 is associated with an electrical powersupply unit suitable for causing the above-mentioned light source toflash, such that the light signal that is emitted is seen to flash in amanner that is associated in the mind of a driver, and more generally inthe mind of any road user, with the flashing of a “warning” type lightthat is characteristic of a vehicle that is stationary or traveling atan abnormally slow speed.

The housing 26 protects the light source and its electrical power supplyunit from the outside, in particular from bad weather and impacts.

The housing 26 is also demountable so as to make it possible, wherenecessary, to replace the light source and/or its power supply unit.

To enhance the safety of the stroller 1, each of the left and rightsides of the housing 26 for the light 24 is made in the form of a flat26A that extends in substantially vertical manner relative to the groundS. Each of these flats is coated in a retro-reflector covering forreflecting light whenever it is illuminated by a light beam extendingtransversely to the direction of arrow 5.

In order to control the supply of electricity to the light source 27 ofthe light 24, the stroller 1 is provided with a switch 30 carried by thepush bar 14. The switch is situated in the zone of the bar 14 that is tobe held in the hands of the adult 3 in charge of pushing the stroller 1and it can be actuated merely by being pressed by a finger, or by asimilar action. The switch 30 is electrically connected to the light 24,preferably via low-voltage electrical conductors 32 that extend insidethe hollow frame 10. The path followed by the conductors 32 isrepresented highly diagrammatically by dashed lines in FIG. 1. From afunctional point of view, the switch makes and breaks connection betweenthe electrical power supply circuit and the light source 27 of the light24, and the nature of the switch could equally well be mechanical,making the user-actuatable portion of the switch in the form of apushbutton, or fluidic, making said user-actuatable portion in the formof a pressure membrane button.

The actuatable portion of the switch 30 carries external markingrepresentative of its function of controlling the light 24. Inparticular, the button carries a pictogram in the form of a triangle,commonly associated with the above-mentioned warning lights.

The use of the stroller 1, and in particular of its warning light 24, isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the adult 3 pushing the stroller 1 and engaging it on apedestrian crossing 40 that extends transversely across a road 42, witha car 44 approaching the crossing 40 from the left, and a car 46approaching it from the right. The side of the road 42 has parkingplaces 48, and the crossing 40 begins between two parking places andextends towards the other side of the road, with stationary cars 50 and52 being parked respectively to the left and the right of the crossing40.

When the adult 3 engages the stroller 1 on the beginning of thepedestrian crossing 40, the adult actuates the switch 30 in such amanner as to cause electrical power to be delivered to the light sourceof the light 24, thereby producing a flashing light signal referenced 54in FIG. 2. This signal can be seen by the adult 3, who can thus checkimmediately that the light 24 has indeed been switched on.

As soon as the stroller 1 has been pushed forward far enough by theadult 3 for its light 24 no longer to be masked from the drivers of thecars 44 and 46 by the parked cars 50 and 52, i.e. as soon as the frontend of the stroller carrying the light 24 has come up to or goneslightly beyond the line defined by the sides of the cars 50 and 52facing towards the road 42, as in FIG. 2, these drivers are warned ofthe presence of the stroller 1. The flashing signal 54 emitted by thelight 24 is naturally associated by drivers with a vehicle in distressor traveling at an abnormally slow speed, such that by reflex they causetheir cars to slow down or stop. Thus, even if the left and right sidesof the pedestrian crossing 40 are masked from the adult 3 to a greateror lesser extent by the parked cars 50 and 52, that adult neverthelesswarns the users of the road 42 that he/she is about to cross the road,by pushing the stroller 1 in front. For this purpose, it can beunderstood that the light 24 advantageously emits the signal 54 in allhorizontal directions, with the horizontal periphery of the housing 26being arranged for this purpose.

Once the road 42 has been fully crossed, the adult 3 uses the switch 30to switch off the light 24.

In addition to, or independently of, lighting of the light 24, theretro-reflector zones 26A of the housing 26 of the light 24 reflect toleft and to right any light beams that might illuminate them, inparticular beams coming from the headlights of the cars 44 and 46.

The light 24 may naturally be used in circumstances other than crossinga road, for example when advancing the stroller along a narrow path, orwhen light levels are low, etc.

In FIG. 3, for which directional terms such as “high”, “low”, “left”,“right”, etc. apply in the same manner as in the preceding figures,there can be seen a variant of the front end portion of the stroller 1.The portions of the frame and of the wheel in said portion of thestroller are analogous respectively to the corresponding elements of thestroller shown in FIG. 1, and they are labeled by the same numericalreferences, i.e. 10 for the frame, 18 for the front wheel, and 20 forthe rod of the frame having the wheel 18 arranged at its front end. Thisvariant a warning light 24′ functions in analogous manner to the light24, and is associated with the same components as the light 24 forproducing a flashing light signal controlled by the switch 30 at therear.

The light 24′ differs from the light 24 essentially in its outerprotective housing 26′ that is situated at the front end of the rod 20.The housing 26′ is generally spherical in shape, and comprises firstly atop cap 26′A that is substantially hemispherical and that is made of atranslucent material to pass the signal emitted by the light sourceinside the housing, and secondly a bottom base 26′B in the form of ahemisphere with a truncated bottom portion and made of an opaquematerial. As a result, only the top hemisphere 26′A is lighted in fullwhen the light is switched on.

The overall spherical shape of the housing 26′ gives the front portionof the stroller 1 an original appearance that can be thought of as avisual “signature” associated with the stroller, while enabling theabove-described technical functions to be incorporated therein.

Advantageously, the top cap 26′A is made of crystal polycarbonate, withthe light source of the light emitting light that is colored, inparticular orange. The light source is preferably constituted by one ormore light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that have the advantage, amongstothers, of possessing a very long lifetime. Under such circumstances,the cap 26′A can be permanently secured to the base 26′B withleaktightness that is long-lasting. Similarly, by providing for theelectrical power supply unit for the light source of the light not to bestored within the housing 26′, but for example to be fitted under theframe 10, the cap 26′A is advantageously sealed permanently, it beingunderstood that electrical conductors analogous to the conductors 32then connect the power supply unit to the LED(s) constituting the lightsource.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, the top cap 26′A is optionallyprovided with a plurality of lens-forming internal facets 26′A₁ that aredistributed around the periphery of the cap in substantially uniformmanner. Each facet 26′A₁ is adapted to form a diverging light beam 26′A₂going away from the light 24′ when said facet is illuminated from theinside. For this purpose, the light source 27′ inside the housing 26′advantageously has a ring of LEDs, with at least one LED being placedfacing each facet 26′A₁. In operation, the beams 26′A₂ thus togetherilluminate all horizontal directions extending from the light 24′,thereby guaranteeing an omnidirectional light warning, that iseffective, for example, for drivers approaching the stroller 1 fromeither side, as in FIG. 2.

Unlike the housing 26, no retro-reflector zone is provided on thehousing 26′, but retro-reflector coverings 18A are nevertheless appliedto the ends of the hub and to the spokes of the front wheel 18.

The truncated bottom face of the base 26′B forms a docking plane for thetop end of a one-armed fork 22′ connecting the front wheel 18 to theframe 10. Like the fork 22 in FIG. 1, the fork 22′ is swivel-mounted onthe frame and in particular can swivel about a substantially verticalaxis X-X, with the top end of the fork then sliding against thetruncated bottom face of the base 26′B, as represented by arrow 56.

The means for swivel-mounting the fork 22′ relative to the frame 10 arehidden within the housing 26′ and may be locked by a latch 28′ that isslidably mounted in a complementary groove 29′ extending in the joinplane between the top hemisphere 26′A and the bottom base 26′B of thehousing. By means of a locking mechanism internal to the housing 26′,the latch 28′ can be moved along the groove 29′, as represented by anarrow 58, serving in reversible manner to block the angle of orientationof the fork 22′, and thus the angle of orientation of the front wheel 18relative to the frame 10. The direction in which the stroller advancesis then substantially fixed.

In a variant of the above-described locking mechanism internal to thehousing 26′, the mechanism includes an electromagnet connected to theelectrical power supply unit associated with the light 24′, regardlessof whether the unit is internal or external relative to the housing.Such an electromagnet is shown is a simplified manner is dotted lines inFIG. 3 with reference to “E”. The electromagnet “E” is controlled fromoutside the housing 26′, in particular in the same manner as the light,i.e. by a special control button carried by the push bar 14. Conductorsanalogous to the conductors 32 are integrated in the hollow frame 10.Under such circumstances, the latch 28′ and the groove 29′ are of no useexcept as alternative control means that can be actuated manually, e.g.in the event of the electromagnet malfunctioning.

Another embodiment a child's carriage of the invention consists infitting a tricycle frame with a warning light analogous to the light 24,and controlled by an adult in charge of pushing the tricycle by means ofa thrust pole that is removably secured to the rear end of the tricycleframe. The removable pole is fitted with a switch analogous to theswitch 30, and releasable electrical connection means between the switchand the light are provided on the frame and on the pole so as to enablethe switch to be used to control switching on and off of the light fromthe rear thrust pole when it is assembled to the frame. Such areleasable electrical connection between the push bar 14 and the frame10 is shown in a simplified manner in dotted lines in FIG. 1 at “C”.

Various arrangements and variants of the stroller and of the tricycledescribed above can also be envisaged. As examples:

instead of providing a single front wheel, the frame of the child'scarriage can be fitted with a middle set of two front wheels, connectedto the frame by a fork in the form of a beam, or the frame can be fittedwith two front wheels on either side, the light 24 or 24′ then beingarranged on a portion of the frame that projects far enough forwardsrelative to the remainder of the frame;

other shapes can be envisaged for the push bar 14 for pushing thestroller forwards, for example left and right handles, or an arc that isshaped like a handlebar, etc.;

in addition to stroller and tricycle frames, the invention also appliesto a frame for a baby carriage or the like;

a plurality of lights analogous to the light 24 or 24′ may be providedon a single child's carriage frame in order to improve safety and/or forreasons of appearance;

the electrical conductors connecting the light 24 or 24′ to its controlswitch 30, and where appropriate connecting the electromagnet forlocking the fork 22′ to its control switch, may be replaced by awireless system, such as a radio control system or an infrared system;

means providing an audible warning of presence may be associated withthe light 24 or 24′; for example in the form of a musical pedestrianalarm; such audible warning means, advantageously powered by theelectrical power supply unit associated with the light, can becontrolled simultaneously with or independently of the light, by usingpaired switches; and/or

the light source of the light 24 or 24′ may include or may beconstituted by one or more flash bulbs, in particular of white color andassociated with a housing cap that is colored; such flash bulbs presentthe advantage of consuming little electricity while delivering a signalthat is efficient and powerful, of the camera-flash type; since thissignal is emitted substantially from the entire periphery of the housingof the light, the rear peripheral zone of the housing, i.e. the zonefacing towards the child on board the carriage and towards the adultpushing the carriage, is covered by an opaque mask to avoid dazzlingthem.

1. A child's carriage comprising a frame supporting a seat or a cot forthe child including a rod extending forward of all other components ofthe frame; a front wheel for bearing on the ground and connected to afront free end of the rod by a fork that is mounted by a swivel to thefront free end of the rod; a front warning light source and an outerhousing mounted so as to project above and forward of the front free endof the rod so that the front warning light source is positioned forwardof all components of the frame including the rod, the outer housingcovering and protecting the front warning light source and including adecorative cover extending over and hiding the swivel between the forkand the front free end of the rod; and at least one rear thrust elementfor pushing the carriage and provided with a switch for switching thelight source on and off.
 2. The carriage according to claim 1, whereinthe housing for the at least one light source includes a substantiallyhemispherical top cap made of a translucent material to permit passageof light emitted by the at least one light source inside the housing,and a bottom base in the form of a hemisphere with a truncated bottomportion made of an opaque material.
 3. The carriage according to claim2, wherein the truncated bottom portion of the base forms a docking andsliding plane for a top end of the fork.
 4. The carriage according toclaim 2, wherein the top cap is provided with a plurality oflens-forming internal facets distributed around a periphery thereof,with the at least one light source including at least one LED beingdisposed facing each facet.
 5. The carriage according to claim 1,wherein the front warning light is associated with electrical powersupply means for the at least one light source that are adapted to causethe at least one light source to flash.
 6. The carriage according toclaim 5, including a locking mechanism adapted to block the orientationof the fork relative to the frame, the locking mechanism being internalto the housing and having a latch button engagable from an exterior ofthe housing and wherein the locking mechanism includes an electromagnetconnected to the electrical power supply and controlled by the switchcarried by the thrust element.
 7. The carriage according to claim 1,including a locking mechanism adapted to block the orientation of thefork relative to the frame, the locking mechanism being mounted internalto the housing and having a latch button engagable from an exterior ofthe housing.
 8. The carriage according to claim 1, wherein the housingof the at least one light source is provided on an outside face with atleast one retro-reflector zone.
 9. The carriage according to claim 1,wherein the thrust element is permanently secured to the frame, andelectrical connection means between the switch and the light beingcontained within the frame.
 10. The carriage according to claim 1,wherein the thrust element is releasably connected to the frame and isassociated with separable electrical connection means between the switchand the at least one light source.
 11. The carriage according to claim1, wherein the frame is a frame of a wheeled device selected from agroup of devices consisting of strollers, baby carriages, and tricycles.